Portable testing device



Aug. 19, 1952 TIPPERMAN 2,607,829

PORTABLE TESTING DEVICE Filed March 24, 1950 35 FIGQZ" JNVENTORQ 28HERBERT L'. TIPPERMAN Patented Aug. 19, 1952 Herbert L'. Tipperman,Brooklyn, N. Y. Application March 24, 1950, Serial No.:151,683

'1Claim. (Cl.17-183)- This invention relates to a portable electricaltesting device adapted to be combined with a flashlight.

It is an object of this invention to provide a testing instrumentcapable of performing simple, continuity, resistance and voltage testsas a self contained portable device combined with a flashlight andcapable of being manufactured simply and economically.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device of thecharacter indicated wherein means are provided for storing and carryingthe test leads used in connection with the performance of the abovementioned tests.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a flashlight withmeans readily attachable thereto to form part thereof for the purpose ofperforming a variety of tests, said means being readily interchangeablein order to adapt the device to a variety of testing situations whichmay he encountered.

Other and further objects of this invention will become apparent fromthe description thereof contained in the annexed specifications, or willotherwise become obvious. It will be understood that the inventionherein disclosed may be employed for other purposes to which thestructure and arrangement are adapted.

Figure v1 is 'an elevational view of the device comprising the presentinvention partly broken away,

Figure 2 is a cross-section of Figure 1 taken along 22,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of the switch arrangement showing thetest leads plugged into position, and

Figure 4 is a cross-section of the lower portion of Figure 1. Y p

. As shown in. Figure 1, the invention comprises a flashlight ofvsubstantially conventional construction'housed in a cylindrical casing Hpreferably molded or otherwise formed of non-conductivematerial.Supported at one end of casing l I is 'a lens and lamp assembly whichmay advantageously be detachably secured thereto as by means of threadedcollar [2. The lensassembly' comprises a lens l3 and a reflector elementH which is provided with 'a socket l5 adapted to receive theconventionalflashlight type incandescent bulb or lamp [6. Flashlight cells I! and 18of conventional type are shown positioned within the casing. The centerterminal of the upper cell l1 contacts the center terminal of lamp H5 inconventional manner. The cells are securely held within casing I I bymeans of sleeve I9, as more clearly appears from Figure 14. shown insaid figure, sleeve I9 is pro vided with an internally threaded portionadapted to 'be cooperatively engaged with the ex-'-.

ternally threaded portion of casing ll. Sleeve I9 is additionallyIpI'OVldBd with a transverse wall 20. Helical spring 2|, of conductivemate-l vrial, is interposed. between the bottom terminal of cell l8 andwall 20, thereby resiliently urging the cells into contact with eachother as well as withthe center terminal of lamp I6. The lowestconvolution of spring 2|. contacts conductor 22 and completes theelectrical circuit to one terminal of switch 23. Switch 23 isofconventional type and is provided with a slide element-.14 whichselectively completes or interrupts the conductive path betweenconductors 22 'and 25. The'latter conductor is electrically connected tothe screw threaded portion of the lamp socket carried by reflector l4thereby completing the circuit from the base of cell I8 to the outsideor screw terminal of the lamp. The flashlight op erates in conventionalmanner; the .lamp thereofjbeingilluminated upon the closing of switch 23to complete the circuit.

Jacks 26 and 21' which may advantageously be of the pin type areprovided in physical abutment with the end portions of conductors 22 and25 thereby making electrical contact with each of them. The jacks extendthrough the switch housing and open to the exterior of casing ll, thusproviding means for making electrical contact with the ends of saidconductors externally of the casing. The electrical contact is made bymeans of test leads 28 which are provided with plugs adapted to beinserted into said jacks. Figure Bis a iragmentary view of the switchportion of the casing and shows test leads 28 plugged into position insaid pin jacks.

When switch 23' is in open condition and the test leads are. pluggedinto said jacks, the flashf light lamp will be illuminated upon thecompletion of .theelectrical circuit through the test prod the testleadplugs; such jacks may be eliminated and perforations drilled or formedin the nonconductive material of the casing. The perforations are formedin the same location as the jacks. In the event that such perforationsare utilized the plugs when inserted abut directly against conductors 22and 25 thereby making electrical contact with each of them. The use ofsaid perforations accomplishes a result similar to that achieved by thejacks'but in a more economical mannerin the elimination of the cost andassembly of the additional elements.

As shown in Figure 4, the bottom closure for casing H is comprised ofthe assembly termed by sleeve l9 and end cap 29. The sleeve and end capare formed of a material similar'to that of the casing. One end ofsleeve I9. is threadedly engaged with the bottom end of casing H; theother end of said sleeve being threadedly engaged with end cap 29.Sleeve I9 is also provideo with. tran verse wa s mo eolearly appearsfrom Figure 2. end cap 29 is provided with jacks 30, 3| and 32. Thejacks areadapted to receive and make electrical contact with the plugsformed. on the ends of test-leads 28. Test lamps 33 and 34 are suitablysecured within end cap 29 as shown diagrammatically in Figure 2. The.test lamps may be of varying voltages such as six, twelve, twenty-fouror one hundred and ten volts of conventional filamentary type or one .Qsaid la ps ma e of n on type- It has been found advantageous touse one.six volt filament type lamp in combinat n with a neon bulb or general elc cal testin u s s.-

The combination of lamps may be variedv in accordance with the generalcharacter of th tes fiior which the device. is intended t be used.

The lamps may be m un he end cap by t use .of lamp sockets so as topermit their ready replacement or the lamp terminals may be soldereddirectly to the leads connecting to the jacks. In the event of the useof a neon bulb a suitable resistor may be inserted in series therewith.The lamps are suited for voltage tests.

into t e c mbinatio of jacks .30 and ,3! o jacks 3.! and 3. It w ll beunderstood t t a r a r number pf lamps with associated jacks may beutilized if desired. Perforations 35 are provided the bottom wall of endcap 29 for the purpose of ma n he n ition f u i at o 'o the lampsvisible during a test. s

It. will be noted that by reason of the arrangement herein provided thetransverse wall 20.. in sleeve l9 sets off a compartment withinsleevel9. T is c mpartment orms a stora a e r th purpose of receiving andstoring test lead 28 when not in use as more clearly appears in Fig.- ey reason of this arran ement the entire testing device and equipmentisseli contained and may be readily and conveniently transported intact.The sleeve and end cap arrangement is adapted to be secured toflashlight of similar construction which are adapted to cooperate withscrew threaded portion of the sleeve.

It should be noted that test lamps 33 and 34 may each be inserted inseries circuit with the batteries of the flashlight when desired byplugging a test lead across from jack 3| to jack 26 a d then u in i ok ncoope ation with either jack 30 or 32 for the'purpose of receiving thetest leads to be connected to the circuit of device under test.

.1 have here shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention.It will be apparent, .however, that this invention is not limited tothis, embodiment and thus many changes, additions and modifications canbe made in connection therewith without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as herein disc os d a d hereinafter claimed- Icla m:

An electrical testing device comprisi1 1 g ,a flashlight including acasing adapted to receive one or more-electrical cells, a switch and ahousing efor f r d of i su a ing material o said casing, conductorsconnected to said switch, one of said conductors being connectedto acellterminal, an incandescent lamp supported at one end of Said i e a d.conne ted wit h oppo ing e minal o a ce l as Well a t t e ot o a d on ucor a e ture .f rrn d in the w h us n ad acent. o said. conductors. saidapertures. being ad pted to de achably receive the ends oi co ductin tetin elements and to hold sai ends ele trical contact with saidconductors, a sleeve adapted to have one. of. its ends secured to theother end of said casing, a transverse wall formed in said sleeve, anend cap adaptedto be detachably secured to the other end of said sleeveto form a compartment there.-. with adapted to receive and store saidtesting elements, testing lamps secured within said compartment,electrical receptacles formed in one of the walls of saidcompartmentadapted to detachablyreceive the ends of said conductingtesting elements, apertures formedin one of the walls of saidcompartment to permit said lamps to be ie d from the exterior thereof.

:L. 'IIPBERMAN;

REFEBENQES .QI ED The following references are of recordin t file ofthis patent:

